However, I am not particularly in agreement with Murray’s views on immigration. As I wrote in the post on the New Jersey election, “Dr. Sabrin does say he’s for immigration reform. I am not sure I totally agree with the specifics. I would repeal all laws pertaining to immigration, because the Constitution does not authorize the federal government to get involved in immigration. Just leave people alone, as long as you don’t suspect someone of committing acts of aggression, theft or fraud. It doesn’t matter whether the individual is within the “borders” or on the outside and traveling in.”

And I also included in that post a quote from Tom Knapp, who happens to be on the national Libertarian Party’s platform committee. Here’s Tom Knapp:

When I sought appointment to the Libertarian Party’s 2018 platform committee, I made a few commitments (including):

To seek a committee recommendation that the Libertarian Party delete the final sentence of Plank 3.4, “Free Trade and Migration,” as follows: “We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders. However, we support control over the entry into our country of foreign nationals who pose a credible threat to security, health or property.” Thanks to the committee for considering, and passing, this proposal!

I don’t think the LP platform says anything about “citizenship.” If it does, it shouldn’t.

“I oppose birthright citizenship because it is not consistent with the fundamental concept of citizenship–a strong cultural and political tie to a nation’s legal and economic systems. Citizenship requires embracing a nation’s founding ideals. For America, that means embracing our founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, especially all the rights guaranteed to a nation’s citizens. Coming to America legally is the best way to demonstrate that an immigrant will make our country his homeland to become a productive citizen.” – Murray Sabrin on the 14th Amendment

“I oppose birthright citizenship because it is not consistent with the fundamental concept of citizenship.”

But the “fundamental concept of citizenship” is not consistent with the fundamental concept of liberty, freedom of association, and private property, very important libertarian principles.

No, America has in its Constitution the First Amendment that protects the right of freedom of thought and conscience of every individual. In America, you can have the freedom to think and believe whatever the hell you want, even crackpot communist kookery.

If someone doesn’t “embrace the founding documents,” then he is not allowed “citizenship”? Not allowed in? Should we kick out Bernie Sanders, Evita Ocasio-Cortez, and Donald Trump? (And most of Trump’s cabinet, most of the U.S. Congress and the Supreme Court, and on and on…)

One commenter on Murray’s Facebook post stated that “The entire concept of citizenship is statist and un-libertarian.” And I totally agree with that.

I think a lot of people out there are America worshipers, and see this country as more of a private club than a territory in which the freedom of the individual is protected. Including the freedom of thought and conscience. The nationalists and conservatives and talk radio ditto-heads are obsessed with “citizenship” as well as their collectivism and America group identity mysticism. Many people of this variety do not see the forest for the trees, when it comes to the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, and especially private property and free-market capitalism. They want socialism in immigration controls in their endorsing of Washington’s central-planning bureaucrats’ attempted but futile controls over the movements of millions of people. And I must say, what a shame that there are very prominent libertarians who have been eating up the “immigrant invasion” fear-mongering. I’m reminded of the killer bees coming up from the south … and it never happened.

But if you are in New Jersey, please vote for Murray Sabrin. Make a statement to the Republicrats and Demopublicans in Washington.